Shifted Temptations (9 page)

"There are a lot of things you three need to work out and some things you
should know, but first I have to tell you what’s going on."

"Okay," I said, a little confused about the 'things I
should know' part, but I wanted to concentrate on Sam first. "So, what happened?"

"Car accident, like I told you on the phone. Some guy lost control at an intersection and slammed into Sam's
car, luckily passenger's side."

"Was the guy drunk or something?"

Liz shook her head. "No, it was just a case of not paying enough attention. The man was in his late eighties. I heard the police say something about taking away his driver's license."

I just nodded, not know
ing what to say. It sucked I wouldn't be able to see them throw some asshole in jail.

"So, how is she?"

"Doing pretty well, actually. She was unconscious when they pulled her out of the car, but thankfully, there was no severe head injury. The doctor thinks she passed out from shock. Her left arm is broken as well as her left ankle from banging into the driver’s side door. And besides a few bad bruises, scrapes and burns, the rest of her is doing fine."

Liz said all of that in a matter of fact tone as if she wouldn't have to think about what all of that meant. She would
not have to think about how close her friend came to being seriously injured or worse. The shine of unshed tear told me I was right.

I knew how she felt. Even though Liz just told me
that Sam's injuries were not that serious, my heart continued to race. I needed to see her for myself.

I reach
ed out, placing a comforting hand on Liz's shoulder. "Thanks," I said and started for the door.

"Wait, there's something else I need to talk to you about," Liz called just as Jordan burst
out of Sam's room.

Not giving Liz or me a single glance, Jordan
stormed down the hallway, almost taking down a nurse in the process.

"What was that all about?" Liz asked.

I turned away from watching Jordan’s retreating form to look at her. "I have no idea."

I was
stunned but also a little worried. I hoped he hadn't upset Sam. Before I could go check, Liz stopped me again.

"Wait," s
he said urgently.

"
What?" I snapped, getting frustrated. What could be so damn important? I needed to see Sam.

"Um, there's so
mething else."

Liz looked both ways down the quiet hallway. I did the same noticing it was mostly empty except one nurse checking a chart far enough awa
y not to hear our conversation.

My gaze swung back to Liz questioningly. I
had not realized we were having a confidential discussion, but she looked nervous enough. Liz was actually ringing her hands and biting her bottom lip. It was surprising to see her that way. The few times we had met, she always had a cool confidence about her. She was definitely rattled.

"Tell me," I urged.

"I’m leaving for Europe in just a few days. It was something that Sam and I have known about for a while and before the accident, I was a little worried about leaving her alone, but she insisted she would be fine. Now, she really is going to need help."

"Can't you cancel
the trip?" I asked cautiously.

I
was not completely sure where she was going with the conversation, but I had a feeling, a hopeful feeling.

"W
hat about her parents?" I asked as an afterthought.

She shook her head. "He
r parents are doing the usual, traveling around the country. She called them and assured them she was all right. Of course they went back to doing what they do best, avoidance. I think they're in New Mexico right now."

I shook my head and blew out an exasperated breath.
Those people never made any sense to me. They seemed like good parents in some ways, but they couldn’t take the time to visit their only daughter? Even when she was laid up in a hospital bed after a debilitating accident?

"And no
," she continued. "I cannot cancel the trip. The traveling is part of my job and if I don't go, there is a good chance I will be fired. I promised I would take care of Sam and the...." She paused a moment, her gaze darting around nervously.

I felt my eyebrows pulled together
. What in the hell was going on with her? She was acting out of character and I was ready for her to get whatever she was trying to say over with.

After a brief moment, Liz took a deep breath and seemed to pull herself together. I was rather impressed
at how she could go from looking so anxious and unsure one minute to confident and bold another.

With a much steadier voice
, she said something so shocking and unreal it had me speechless.

"I can't lose my job because
I promised I would take care of Sam...and the baby."

My brain went numb
, just shut off. I know my face probably looked funny with my mouth hanging open and my eyes blinking rapidly, waiting for different words to come out of her mouth. Baby? Whose baby?

"Whose baby?" My voice sounded distant. Damn
, I was starting to feel a little lightheaded.

Liz nodded slowly, as if she knew what
I was really asking. "Well, she is either yours or Jordan's."

"So, the abortion was cancelled?" I was so confused.

Licking her lips she said, "Yeah, you will have to talk with Sam about that. Right now I need to know if you are willing to take care of her while I am gone."

Oh yeah, that was
what we were getting at. My mind was still on the baby news. Liz called it a girl. I was having a baby girl. Oh my God, Sam didn't have an abortion!

My mind raced. Shit!
I didn't know which way to go. A mixture of emotions assaulted me all at once. I was pissed Sam had kept her continued pregnancy a secret. However, I also was ecstatic that she had kept our baby and then fear shot through. Would she let me be a part of their lives?

Liz cleared her throat.

"Oh...eh...yeah," I stumbled over my words. It seemed actually speaking was becoming a bit difficult. So was standing up. I leaned my back against the wall for support.

"Eh
, sure, I can help take care of her. Do you think she will be okay with this?"

"She has
to be," Liz shrugged. "Listen, I have told her she needed to come clean with you guys and truthfully, I think she would have eventually. But right now she needs you. With those broken bones and the pregnancy, she really will have a hard time getting around."

I just nodded my consent, feeling scared and yet excited about being with Sam again, even if only to tak
e care of her for a short time.

Plans began forming in mind almost insta
ntly. Screw what Jordan thought! I wanted Sam back and I was going to do everything in my power to make it happen.

I loved her and our baby. I didn't care if the baby migh
t possibly be Jordan's. The baby and Sam were mine, had always been mine. It was time to grovel, to show Sam how important she was to me.

Liz and I talked a little more about getting Sam's things from their house. I planned
to be ready before she was discharged in two days. When I brought her home, she would have all she needed, for a month anyway. We could figure out the rest later.

I took a quick peek into her room. She was asleep
so I slipped inside and quietly studied her. I did not want to wake her and stood a few feet away from the bed. She lay on her side looking so small and pale against the white hospital blankets. My gaze traveled over her bruised face to the casts covering her arm and ankle. It was then that I noticed her belly.

My chest
tightened with the need to touch her, to place my hands on her stomach. I wanted to feel connected in some way, but I refrained from going any closer. She needed her rest.

I had
decided the best course of action would be to wait until she was ready to leave before I told her that she would be staying with me.

She would sleep
in my room, in my bed where she belonged and, as bad as it sounded, I did not want her having time to think or argue. Throwing it on her at the last minute would stun her enough to get her home with the least amount of struggle.

Sam shifted slightly, stirring the air and I took a deep breath through my nose. It was difficult, but I
caught her light scent just beneath the smell of heavy disinfectant. I had missed that smell. Soon, I thought, it would be on my pillow.

The cat in me roused, ready to claim what was his. I had been pushing the impulse back since the day I met Sam, knowing nothing permanent could become of our relationship, but no more. The cat and I were one, no separate thoughts or wants. Sam was mine and my cat instincts d
emanded I protect my territory.

I had to get out of there soon. If someone were
to walk in and see me, they would be scared shitless. I didn't need a mirror to know my eyes had turned. They gave off an inhuman glow when I began the change.

That was another thing that needed to be discussed between Sam and me, but first things first. It was time to find Jordan and explain my plan. I didn't really give a shit if he agreed or not, but he had a right to know.

~ 9 ~

Alex

"I cannot believe you're doing this."

Jordan's words sounded harsh, as was his usual way of speaking. We were driving to Sam and Liz's house to pack a few of Sam's things.

Jordan
had not been happy with my plan, but I held my ground. Sam would be living with us for the next month at least, hopefully longer.  Nothing Jordan said was going to change my mind. Best friend or not, I decided that if he could not handle having Sam around, he could move. Hell, I thought, if things got too bad, Sam and I could move. Once she healed of course.

The idea had just been a passing thought,
however, it began to linger, develop. It would be nice to have a house Sam and I could raise a family in. Maybe one with a big back yard and a swing set for the baby.

I sighed. Of
course, all those plans depended upon Sam forgiving me. I planned to give it my best try.

I glanced over at Jordan. He looked more anxious than his irritated words
implied. He was fidgeting, going between rubbing the back of his neck to wiping the palms of his hands against his jeans. I watched his throat move as he swallowed hard and furrowed my brows in thought.

I had ano
ther obstacle. I had not told Jordan about the baby. I knew it was a sore subject with him. He would explode at the mere mention of Sam’s pregnancy. I knew his reaction was rooted by guilt, but I made the decision to let Sam tell him when she was ready. I only hoped he did not fly off the handle like he had the last time she told him she was pregnant.

For all of Jordan's bravado, he was a wreck without Sam. He loved her as much as I did, but would
not or maybe could not, admit it. Would he ever want her back? If he did want to work things out, we would have to decide if we could share.

For the most part, sharing had
worked in the past. It had been great, but that was for a casual relationship. I was thinking about the future, hoping for a forever.

Keeping one hand on the wheel
, I rubbed my forehead with the other. I was getting ahead of myself again. All of it depended upon Sam. She could decide she wanted only one of us or maybe neither. On top of everything, there were still too many secrets between us. Only time would tell, and if Jordan wanted in the running, he needed to get his head out of his ass.

“I am, so get over it." I said a
s I pulled into the driveway at the address Liz had given me.

Jordan bared his teeth at me and growled. I ignored the display of
dominance, which only pissed him off more. I shrugged, tired of his attitude.

"Well, you go a
head. I'm staying in the car," he snapped.

"Fine."

"And I am not helping you take care of her.” He pointed a finger at me. “You are all on your own with that," he grumbled while crossing his arms in defiance.

God he was like a petulant child. I
decided not to acknowledge it.

"Fine," I said again, getting out of the car and shaking my head in frustration.

I unlocked the door of the small brick home that Liz and Sam shared. My first impression was that it was really nice. The place was clean and fully furnished. The walls were painted a fresh blue dotted with a few pictures of landscapes. Dark hardwood flooring made the space seem even bigger than it actually was and I liked it with the cream and brown furniture.

I had walke
d into the living room first, which flowed into a nice size kitchen. Two doors were on the left and two on the right that I assumed were bedrooms and a bathroom.